‘It’s okay, Kate. He’s gone now.’
‘Gone?’ The one word seemed to penetrate her panic. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes, I saw him run across the road and get into a van. They’ve driven away.’ He stepped forward and she practically fell into his arms, hugging him.
He could feel her body shaking against his. Ethan held her tight. This was...
It was almost...good. Almost the best thing he’d done in a long time. He smoothed the dishevelled curls on the back of her head, trying to focus on what he was supposed to be doing. Comfort. That was right.
‘You’ve had a shock.’ Ethan swallowed down the impulse to tell her that everything was all right now. However much he wanted to make it all right, that wasn’t in his power. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘No, I...’ He could feel her hands clutching at his sweater. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘We’ll get you inside and have a look.’ He made to lead her towards the front door of the surgery, but she resisted, suddenly breaking free of him.
‘Sorry...sorry, I’m okay. I have to get my bag.’ Kate looked up at him apologetically, wiping the sleeve of her jacket across her tear-stained face. Flipping the car remote, she opened the boot, pushing a rug back to reveal a boot safe.
She sorted through her keys, pushing out a sharp breath as if to steady herself. But when she tried to open the safe, her hands were shaking too much.
‘Let me.’ Ethan held out his hand and for a moment panic flared in her eyes again and she gripped her keys tightly.
‘Yes... Sorry. Thanks.’ She handed the keys over and he opened the boot safe. Inside, he saw a small zipped bag which obviously held the drugs that she had been carrying.
He wished she’d stop apologising. And that she’d let him take her in his arms again so he could comfort her. He should tackle the first, as the second was a more selfish impulse.
‘This was why you fought him?’ Ethan put the bag into her hands and she clutched it to her chest, nodding.
‘I know I should have just let him take the car but I couldn’t bear to think that these would get into the wrong hands.’
She was twisting her mouth wryly, probably about to apologise again. Ethan cut her short.
‘You might have been a little too brave, but I can’t say I would have done any different. I don’t much like the thought of these getting onto the streets either.’ He’d seen the results of that, more than once. And, if he couldn’t entirely approve of a course of action that might result in Kate being hurt, he could understand her motives.
‘And you shouted for help.’ Ethan decided to concentrate on something that he could recommend entirely.
‘I...was just making a noise. I didn’t expect anyone to come. Thank you.’ She looked up at him and smiled suddenly. Really smiled, as if he were some kind of hero, and not just a man who had a chequered and uncertain history of being there when he was needed.
‘I’m just glad I was here to help.’ Ethan took the risk of putting his arm loosely around her shoulders again, and she nestled against him as he shepherded her slowly towards the main door of the surgery.
* * *
He didn’t seem to think anything of it. It was a big thing, running out of the surgery like that to help her. Ethan Conway was different from other men. Dependable, if ever she wanted to use that word again...
It was just the shock. The feeling that she wanted him to hold her and not let go would wear off, along with the tremor in her hands. He’d become just another guy, nicer to look at than most, but still easy to let go of.
But it seemed he wasn’t letting go of her. He walked with her to the drugs cupboard, waiting while she negotiated the series of locks that kept it secure. Then back into the consulting room, where Jeff was dozing in exactly the same pose as when she’d left Ethan and him.
‘I’ll take a look at Jeff and then I should call the police.’ Getting back to normal was what Kate needed to do now. She didn’t want to think about Ethan’s dark-blue eyes. Or the lilt of his accent, soft as the Yorkshire hills that could be seen from almost every part of this town.
‘No. I’ll make you a cup of tea. Then I’ll call the police.’
His suggestion sounded a lot better. But she’d already spent too much time wanting to lean on him. She didn’t want to compound the problem by showing him that she was hurt.
‘That’s okay, I’ll...’ Kate could feel her arm throbbing, from the elbow to the tip of her thumb. ‘Actually, a cup of tea might be really nice. Thank you.’
He raised his eyebrows at her sudden volte face. ‘Sure you’re all right?’
‘Yes, fine. I’d just really like a cup of tea. There’s a tea station behind the reception area.’ It would take him five minutes to make the tea and that would give Kate some time to inspect the damage. ‘Milk and three su